Process of producing epoxy steroid compounds



United States Patent Oflice 2,751,381 Patented June 19, 1956 PROCESS OF PRODUCING EPOXY STEROID COMPOUNDS George Slomp, Jr., Kalamazoo Township, Kalamazoo County, Mich., assignor to The Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Mich., a corporation of Michigan No Drawing. Application January 4, 1954, Serial No. 402,128

6 Claims. (Cl. 260-23955) The present invention relates to diepoxy steroid compounds of the pregnane series, and is more particularly concerned with novel 3-hydroxy-5(6),16(17)-diepoxy pregnan-ZO-one, the 3-esters thereof and a novel process for the production thereof.

The novel compounds of the present invention may be represented by the formula:

CH3 O R0 l l wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and acyl radicals of hydrocarbon carboxylic acids containing up to and including eight carbon atoms.

The process of the present invention consists of treating a 3,20-diacyloxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene with an or ganic peracid, to obtain selective epoxidation of the (6) and the 16( 17) double bonds, and hydrolyzing the thus-obtained 3,20-diacyloxy-5a(6a) ,16 x( 17a) -dioxido--pregnene to obtain 3-hydroxy-5 x(6a),l6u(17a)-diepoxypregnan-20-one. Esterification of this compound yields 3- 8.Cy1OXY-50c(60t) 16u(17a)-diepoxypregnan-20-one.

It is an object of the present invention to provide 3- hydroxy-5 (6) ,16( 17) -diepoxypregnan-20-ones and esters thereof. Another object of the present invention is the process for the production of 3-hYdI'OXY-5a(60t),16oz- (17a)-diepoxypregnan-20-one and esters thereof, which involves a selective epoxidation of a 3,20-diacyloxy-5,16,- ZO-pregnatriene and subsequent hydrolysis of an ester and an enol ester group to yield 3-hYdIOXY-5u(6ot),16ot- (17a)-diepoxypregnan-20-one. Other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

The diepoxides of this invention are valuable intermediates in the preparation of physiologically active steroid compounds. For example, Reichsteins Compound S and Kendalls Compound F acetate may be obtained from 3fl-hydroxy-5(6),l6(17)-dioxidopregnan-20-one or a 3 S-ester thereof by bromination to give 3p-hydroxy- 5(6),16(17)-diepoxy-2l-bromopregnan-20-one or the 3,8-

ester thereof, treatment with sodium iodide in acetone and treatment of the thus-formed 2l-iodide with potassium acetate to yield 3B-hydroxy-5(6),16(17)-diepoxy-2lacetoxypregnan-ZO-one or the l e-ester thereof, treatment with hydrogen bromide followed by Raney nickel reduction to give 3,8,5a,17a-trihydroxy-21-acetoxypregnan-2O- one or 3 B-acyloxy-S a, l 7a-trihydroxy-2l -acetoxypregnan- 20-one. Oxidation of 3,8,5a,l7a-trihydroxy-21-acetoxyvpregnan-20-one or selective hydrolysis of the ester thereof followed by oxidation with chromic acid gives 5,170;- dihydroxy-Zl-acetoxypregnane-3,20-dione which when boiled with alcoholic potassium carbonate yields 17cchydroxy-Z1-acetoxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione (Compound S acetate). Treatment of Reichsteins Compound S acetate with Streptomyces fradiae Ecf. Colingsworth et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 74, 2381 (1952)] yields Kendalls Compound F (11B,17a-dihydroxy-2l-acetoxy-4pregnene-3,20- dione).

The starting compounds of the present invention are the 313,20-diacyloxy-5,16,20-pregnatrienes. These compounds are made from the known 3,B-hydroxy-5,16-pregnadien-ZO-one l6-dehydro-pregneno1one) or from the 3- esters thereof by esterification and enol esterification. If it is desired to have identical acyloxy groups in the 3- and 20-positions, the esterification and enol esterification may be performed in one step, for example, by heating at reflux or slowly distilling a mixture of 16-dehydropregnenolone with an acid anhydride such as acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric, anhydride and the like, or with an isopropenyl ester, such as isopropenyl acetate, propionate, butyrate, valerate, isovalerate, hexanoate, heptanoate, octanoate, benzoate, li-cyclopentylpropionate, phenylacetate, toluate, salicylate, anisate, and the like, in the presence of an acid catalyst, preferably para-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate, and isolating the thus-prepared 313,20-diacyloxy-S,16,20-pregnatriene as shown in Preparations 1 and 2. Another method of preparing 35,20-diacyloxy- 5,16,20-pregnatriene consists in enol-acylation of 16-dehydropregnenolone esters as illustrated by the method of Moffett et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 74, 2183 (1952), for the preparation of 3;3,20-diacetoxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene. By using a specific l6-dehydropregnenolone ester, prepared by standard methods of esterification, and subsequent enol-acylation, 3fi,20-diacyloxy-5,16,20-pregnatri enes with unlike acyloxy groups can be prepared (cf. Preparations 3 thru 6). The esters of l6-dehydropregnenolone are obtained by admixing l6-dehydropregnenolone with an acylating agent such as, for example, ketene, an acid, an acid chloride or bromide, an acid anhydride or other known acylating agent usually in a solvent such as, for example, pyridine, or the like, or an inert solvent, including illustratively benzene, toluene, ether and the like, and heating at a temperature between about zero degrees centigrade and the boiling point of the reaction mixture, usually about room temperature, for a period between about a half hour and about 96 hours. The time of reaction as well as the temperature at which the reaction is carried out, the acylating agent, and the ratio of reactants can be varied. The ester is recovered from the reaction mixture by pouring into ice or cold Water, collecting in an appropriate solvent, and washing with successive portions of a mildly basic solution and water to obtain a solution of the product which is essentially neutral. In some instances, the ester crystallizes from the reaction mixture, in which case it is advantageously separated by filtration or other means, Washed withwater, and thereafter purified by conventional means, such as by recrystallization from a suitable solvent or by chromatographic purification, as deemed necessary.

In carrying out the process of the present invention the selected 3,3,20-diacyloxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene, either as a solid or dissolved in an organic solvent, is admixed with the solution of an epoxidizing agent in an organic solvent. Suitable solvents for either the starting compound or the epoxidizing agents are benzene, chloroform, toluene, chlorobenzene, carbon tetrachloride, methylene dichloride, hexane mixtures like Skellysolve B, and the like, with benzene and chloroform preferred. The epoxidizing agents utilized are usually perbenzoic acid,

.peracetic acid, performic acid, monoperphthalic acid and .selected, are operative. also operative but increase the reaction time unnecessarily. The reaction time under the preferred conditions of temjsolution of the product which is essentially neutral. some instances, the ester crystallizes from the reaction other available organic peracids. The preferred temperature range for the epoxidation reaction is between zero and thirty degrees centigrade, but a temperature range of minus ten and plus forty degrees centigrade is operative. The time of reaction may vary between a quarter of an hour and 24 hours or even longer. The course of reaction, however, can be followed by iodometric titration of aliquot samples withdrawn from the reaction mixture at regular time intervals. After two moles of peracids are consumed, the reaction can be quenched by adding water or crushed ice. The product, a 35,20-diacyloxy- 5046a),16cr(l7a)-diepoxy-20-pregnene is obtained from the organic layer by standard procedures, such as solvent extraction, evaporation of the organic solvent and recrystallization from organic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate and Skellysolve B hexanes, mixtures of these, and the like.

The thus-obtained 3 5,20-diacyloxyat (61%) ,160 1701.) diepoxy--pregnene is then hydrolyzed. The hydrolysis may be carried out under various conditions, preferably .by dissolving the compound in any suitable organic solvent, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, tertiary butyl alcohol, acetone, dioxane, or the like, to which is added a solution of an alkali hydroxide, such as sodium or .potassium hydroxide or other like basic reagents such as sodamide, calcium hydroxide, barium hydroxide,

sodium carbonate, or the like, with sodium or potassium hydroxide preferred. The temperature of reaction is preferably between zero and thirty degrees centigrade, but higher temperatures, up to the boiling point of the solvent Temperatures below zero are perature is between one quarter of an hour and twelve hours. After completion of the hydrolysis, the solution is usually diluted with water and the thus-obtained 3B-hydl'OXY-5o(60t),160t(170$)-dipOXYPregIlaIl-20-OI1C is isolated from the reaction mixture by conventional means such as extraction with water-insoluble organic solvents, for example, ether, methylene dichloride, chloroform, carbontetrachloride, benzene and the like, and evaporating the organic solvent. The residue thus-obtained is purified preferably by recrystallization from alcohols, acetone, ethyl acetate, Skellysolve B (hexane mixture) and other like solvents to yield pure 3fi-hydroxy-5a(6a),l6a(l7a)- .diepoxypregnan-ZO-one.

In order to obtain a 3fi-aCylOXy-5a(6oc),16oc(17m)- diepoxypregnan-ZO-one, 3B-hydroxy-5a(6a) ,16a( 17 a) -diepoxypregnan-ZO-one is esterified by conventional acylating methods, such as admixing the 3B-hydroxy-5a(6a),-

16 x(17a)-diepoxypregnan-20-one with an acylating agent, for example, ketene, an acid chloride or bromide, or an acid anhydride or an isopropenyl acylate or other known acylating agents, usually in a solvent such as, for example, pyridine or the like, or an inert solvent, including solvents Ilike benzene, toluene, ether and the like, and heating at .a temperature between about zero degrees centigrate and the boiling point of the reaction mixture, usually about room temperature, for a period between about a half hour and about 96 hours. The time of reaction as well as the temperature at which the reaction is carried out, the acylating agent, and the ratio of reactants can be varied. The ester is recovered from the reaction mixture 'by pouring into ice or cold water, collecting in an appropriate solvent, and washing with successive portions of a mildly basic solution and water to obtain a In mixture, in which case it is advantageously separated by filtration or other means, washed with water, and thereafter purified by conventional means, such as by recrystallization from a suitable solvent or by chromatographic purification, as deemed necessary.

The following examples are illustrative of the process and products of the present invention, but are not to be construed as limiting.

PREPARATION 1.-3fl,20-DIACETOXY5,16,20-PREGNA'I'BJENE One gram of 3fi-hydroxy-5,l6-pregnadien-20-one (16- dehydropregnenolone), milligrams of para-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate, five milliliters of acetic anhydride and five milliliters of benzene were heated under reflux at atmospheric pressure for eight hours. The excess of acetic anhydride, the acetic acid, and the benzene were then removed by distillation under reduced pressure and the reaction mixture was taken up in 100 milliliters of ether. The ether solution was washed three times with twenty-milliliter portions of five percent sodium carbonate solution and subsequently with Water until neutral. The ether was then removed under reduced pressure and the residue was recrystallized from acetone to give 3/3,20-diacetoxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene of melting point 148 to 149 degrees centigrade.

PREPARATION 2.3[3,20-DIPROPIONYLOXY-5,16,20-

PREGNATRIENE A solution of one gram of 3p-hydroxy-5,16-pregnadien- 20-one in 25 milliliters of isopropenyl propionate and 150 milligrams of para-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate were slowly distilled for a period of twelve hours. From time to time isopropenyl propionate was added to keep the volume of the solution above ten milliliters. After the mixture had cooled, one gram of sodium bicarbonate was added and the remaining isopropenyl propionate was removed by distillation under reduced pressure. The residue was shaken with ether and ice water, the water layer was extracted with more ether and the combined ether layer was washed with saturated sodium chloride solution, water, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The ether was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was recrystallized from acetone to give 3,8,20- dipropionyloxy-S,16,20-pregnatriene.

In a manner similar to Preparations 1 and 2, by treating IG-dehydropregnenolone with other hydrocarbon carboxylic acid anhydrides or with a selected isopropenyl ester, the following representative esters may be made: 35,20 dibutyryloxy 5,16,20-pregnatriene, 35,20- vdivaleryloxy 5,16,20-pregnatriene, 35,20-diisovaleryloxy- 5,16,20 pregnatriene, 3,8,20-dihexanoyloxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene, 35,20 diheptanoyloxy 5,16,20-pregnatriene, 35,20-dioctanoyloxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene, 3[3,20-dibenzoy- 'loxy 5,16,20 pregnatriene, 3fi,20-di-[3-cyclopenty1propionyloxy 5,16,20-pregnatriene, 35,20-diphenylacetoxy- 5,16,20 pregnatriene, 35,20-ditoluyloxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene, 35,20 dianisoyloxy-S,16,20-pregnatriene, 318,20- disalicyloyloxy 5,16,20-pregnatriene, 35,20-digallyloxy- 5,16,20 pregnatriene, 35,20-dimaleyloxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene, 3 8,20 dihemisuccinyloxy 5,16,20-pregnatriene, 3,8,20 dihydrogencitryloxy-S,16,20-pregnatriene, and the like.

PREPARATION 3 .3 [3-BENZOYLOXY-5, 1 G-PREGNADIEN- One gram of 3,8-hydroxy-5,16-pregnadien-20-one, dissolved in ten milliliters of pyridine, was allowed to stand with one milliliter of benzoyl choride at room temperature (about 22 to 25 degrees centigrade) for a period of two hours. Thereafter the mixture was poured into thirty milliliters of water. The precipitate thus-formed was allowed to settle, the supernatant liquid Was decanted and the residue was washed with five percent sodium carbonate solution and water and recrystallized from methyl alcohol to yield 3,8-benzoyloxy-5,16-pregnadien-20-one.

PREPARATION 4.3 fi-BENZOYLOXY-ZO-ACETOXY-S l 6,20-

PREGNATRIBNE A solution of one gram of 3fi-benzoyloxy-5,l6-pregnadien-20-one (Preparation 2) and 0.15 gram of paratoluenesulfonic acid monohydrate in about. twenty milliliters of isopropenyl acetate was slowly distilled for a period of about ten hours through a short fractionating column. From time to time isopropenyl acetate was added to keep the volume of the solution above ten milliliters. After cooling the solution remaining in the flask, one gram of sodium bicarbonate was added and the remaining isopropenyl acetate was removed by distillation under reduced pressure at a temperature below thirty degrees centigrade. The residue was shaken with ether and ice water, the water layer was extracted with more ether and the combined ether layer was washed with saturated sodium chloride solution, water, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The ether was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was recrystallized from methyl alcohol to yield 3fl-benzoyloxy-20acetoxy-5,16,20- pregnatriene.

PREPARATION 5 .3 fi-VALERYLOXY-5 1 6-PREGNADIEN- -0NE Following the procedure given in Preparation 3, 3fivaleryloxy-5,l6-pregnadien-20-one is prepared by reacting valeryl chloride with l6-dehydropregnenolone at room temperature to produce 3,8-valeryloxy-5,16-pregnadien-20- one.

PREPARATION 6.3}3-VALERYLOXY20-ACETOXY-5,16,20-

PREGNATRIENE Following the procedure given in Preparation 4, 3B- valeryloxy-20-acetoxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene is produced by heating 3,8-valeryloxy-5,16-pregnadien-20-one with isopropenyl acetate to yield 3,8 valeryloxy 20 acetoxy- 5,16,20-pregnatriene.

In the manner shown by Preparations 3 through 6, other representative starting compounds can be prepared such as: 3,8 phenylacetoxy 20-acetoxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene, 36 toluyloxy-ZO-acetoxy-S,16,20-pregnatriene, 3[3 anisoyloxy-ZO-acetoxy-S,16,20-pregnatriene, 3fi-salicyloyloxy ZO-acetoxy-S,16,20-pregnatriene, 3 B-propionloxy-ZO- acetoxy 5 ,16,20-pregnatriene, 3 fl-butyryloxy-ZO-acetoxy- 5,16,20-pregnatriene, 3B-isovaleryloxy-ZO-acetoxy-S,16,20- pregnatriene, 3fi-hexanoyloxy-ZO-acetoxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene, 3p heptanoyloxy-20-acetoxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene, 3 fl-octanoyloxy20-acetoxy-5, l 6,20-pregnatriene, 3 fl-(fi-cyclopentylpropionyloxy) 20-acetoxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene, 3fl-gallyloxy-ZO-acetoxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene, 3;9-maleyloxy-20-acetoxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene, 3B-dihydrogencitryloxy-20-acetoxy-5 1 6,20-pregnatriene, 3 3-hemisuccinyloxy- 20 acetoxy-S,16,20-pregnatriene, 3fi-hemitartaryloxy20- acetoxy 5,16,20-pregnatriene, 3[i-acetoxy-20-propionloxy- 5,16,20 pregnatriene, 3B acetoxy-20-butyryloxy-5,16,20- pregnatriene, 3 ,8 acetoxy 20-valeryloxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene, 3, 3 acetoxy-20-isovaleryloxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene, 3,8 acetoxy 20-hexanoyloxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene, 3B- acetoxy 20 heptanoyloxy-S,16,20-pregnatriene, 3/8-acetoxy 20-octanoyloxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene, 3;.9-acetoxy-20- benzoyloxy 5,16,20-pregnatriene, 3;8-acetoxy-20-phenyl acetoxy 5,16,20-pregnatriene, 3fi-acetoxy-20-toluyloxy- 5,16,20 pregnatriene, 3,B-acetoxy-20-anisoyloxy-5,16,20- pregnatriene, 3B-acetoxy-ZO-salicyloyloxy-S,16,20-pregnatriene, 3B acetoxy 20 (fl-cyclopentylpropionyloxy)- 5,16,20 pregnatriene, 3fi-acetoxy-ZO-gallyloxy-5,16,20- pregnatriene, 3p acetoxy ZO-maleyloxy-S,16,20-pregnatriene, 3B-acetoxy-ZO-dihydrogencitryloxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene, 3B acetoxy 20-hemisuccinyloxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene, 3B acetoxy ZO-hemitartaryloxy-S,16,20-pregnatriene; and the like.

Example 1.--3fi,20 diacet0xy-5a(6a),16a(l7u)-diep0xy- ZO-pregnene A solution containing 0.57 gram (4.12 millimole) of perbenzoic acid in fifteen milliliters of benzene was added to 0.50 gram (1.26 millimoles) of 3;3,20-diacetoxy-5,l6,20- pregnatriene. The resulting solution was allowed to stand in the dark for thirty minutes after which period 2.07 molar equivalents of perbenzoic acid had been consumed as determined by titration of an aliquot sample. Titration of a second aliquot sample fifteen minutes later showed no change in peracid concentration. To the reaction mixture was now added ether and cracked ice. The ether phase was separated, washed with cold five percent sodium hydroxide solution and subsequently with water until the wash-water was neutral. The ether solution was then dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated at reduced pressure (the ether was distilled below thirty degrees centigrade) to yield a glassy residue. This residue was twice recrystallized to give 3;5,20-diacetoxy-5u(6a), 16a(17a)-diepoxy-20-pregnene of melting point 162 to 163 degrees centigrade.

Analysisz' Calculated for C25H34Os C, 69.74; H, 7.96 Found C, 69.72; H, 8.02

Example 2.-3 3,20 diacet0xy-5u(6a);16u(17a)-diep0xy- ZO-Pregnene A solution of 3.98 grams of 3p,20-diacetoxy5,16,20- pregnatriene, dissolved in milliliters of chloroform and cooled to five degrees centigrade was admixed with a slurry made of 0.1234 gram of anhydrous sodium acetate and 5.7 milliliters of forty percent peracetic acid. The resulting solution was stored in a refrigerator at five degrees centigrade, and small aliquot samples were removed at regular time intervals for titration. After six hours two molar equivalents of peracetic acid had been consumed. No further change was noted after eighteen additional hours, hence the colorless solution was diluted with chloroform, washed with water, five percent sodium hydroxide solution and then with water until the washwaters were neutral. The chloroform solution was then dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness yielding 3.73 grams of fine needles of 3,3,20- diacetoxy-5a(6u) ,16u( 17oz) -diepoxy-20pregnene. After two recrystallizations from methanol the melting point of the thus obtained 3p,20-diacetoxy-5u(6a),16a(l7a)-die poxy-20-pregnene was found to be 166 to 167 degrees centigrade, [M -25 degrees in chloroform.

nan-ZO-one A solution of one half gram (0.5 gram) of 35,20- diacetoxy 5oc(6ut),l6oc(17oc) diepoxy 20 pregnene in twenty milliliters of a five percent sodium hydroxide solution in methanol was allowed to stand at room temerature (about 22 to 25 degrees centigrade) for a period of thirty minutes. The reaction mixture was then diluted with water and extracted four times with chloroform. The combined organic extracts were washed with water until neutral and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Evaporation of this chloroform solution gave crude 3/8 hydroxy 5a(6u),16o(17a)-diepoxypregnan20-one, which, when crystallized from methanol, yielded needles of melting point 183 to degrees centigrade.

The same compound could also be prepared by the stepwise epoxidation of 3 3-acetoxy-5,16-pregnadien-20- one. 3fl-acetoxy-5,l6-pregnadien-20-one, dissolved in chloroform, yielded, with perbenzoic acid, 3/3-acetoxy- 5a(6ot)-epoxy-16-pregnen-20-one of melting point 196 to 197.5 degrees centigrade, and [a] =-|-37 degrees in chloroform.

Analysis:

Calculated for C23H3204 C, 74.16; H, 8.66 Found C, 74.54; H, 8.72

Treatment of 3B-acetoxy-5a(6a)-epoxy-16-pregnen-20- one with hydrogen peroxide in a solution of methanol and sodium hydroxide gave 3fl-hydroxy5a(6a),16a- (17a)-diepoxypregnan-20-one of melting point 199 to 207 degrees centigrade.

9 3 3,20 diacyloxy 5a(6u) ,16a(17a) diepoxy 20 pregnenes can be hydrolyzed to give 35 -hydroxy 5oc(6oc), 16u(17a)-diepoxypregnan-20-one which can be acylated as shown in Examples 4, 7, and 13 to give the corresponding 3 3-acyloxy-5u(6a) ,16oz(17ot) -diepoxypregnan- 20-ones. Representative 3fl-acyloxy-5a( 6u),16a(17a)- diepoxypregnan-ZO-ones thus-obtained comprise: 3fi-butyryloxy 5a(6a),16a(17a) diepoxypregnan 20 one, 3fl valeryloxy 5a(6ot),l6ot(17oc) diepoxypregnan-20- one, 3fi-isovaleryloxy-5a(6a) ,160c( 17a -diepoxypregnan- 20 one, 38 hexanoyloxy 5ot(60t),160t(170t) diepoxypregnan 20 one, 3/3 heptanoyloxy 5OL(6C),16OC(1706)- diepoxypregnan 20 one, 3,8 octanoyloxy 5oc(6oc), 16a(17a)-diepoxypregnan 20 one, 3,8 phenylacetoxy- 5a( 60:) ,16a( 17 a) -diepoxypregnan-20-one, 3fi-anisoyloxy- 5a(6a),16a(17a)-diepoxypregnan-20-one, 3 fl-salicyolyloxy 5oc(6a),16a(17ot) diepoxypregnan 20 one, 319- toluyloxy 5ot(6ot),16a( 17oc) diepoxypregnan 20 one, 3,8 gallyloxy 5ot(60t),l6u(17oz) diepoxypregnan 20- one, 3 3-dihydrogencitryloxy-5ot(6a),16a( 17oz) -diepoxyprcgnan 20 one, 3 3-hemisuccinyloxy-5u(6u),16 z(17a)- diepoxypregnan 20 one, 3 3 hemitartaryloxy 50(6a) 16u( 17a) -diepoxypregnan-20-one, 3 fl-maleyloxy-S u 60c) 16a( 17oz) -diepoxypregnan-20-one, 3 ,B-trimethylacetoxy- 5a(6a),16a(17a)-diepoxypregnan-20-one; and the like.

It is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the exact details of operation or exact compounds shown and described as obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art and the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a process for the production of a 3-oxygenated- 5u(6a),16a(17a)-diepoxypregnan-20-one compound of the formula:

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and acyl radicals of carboxylic acids containing up to and including eight carbon atoms, the steps which comprise: mixing a 3,3,20-diacyloxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene of the formula:

wherein R1 and R2 are acyl radicals of carboxylic acids containing up to and including eight carbon atoms, with 10 an organic peracid at a temperature between minus ten and plus forty degrees centigrade to give a 3,8,20-diacy1- oxy-5a(6a),16a(17a) diepoxy-20-pregnene and hydrolyzing the thus-obtained diepoxy-ZO-pregnene with a basic reagent to obtain 3fihydl0Xy-5a(6ot),16a(17oc)-diPOXY- pregnan-ZO-one.

2. A process for the production of 3fi-hydroxy- 5a(6u),16u(17a)-diepoxypregnan-20-one which comprises: mixing a 3fi,20-diacyloxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene wherein the acyl radicals are of carboxylic acids containing up to and including eight carbon atoms with an organic peracid selected from the group consisting of performic, peracetic, perbenzoic and monoperphthalic acid at a temperature between zero and thirty degrees centigrade to give 3B,20-diacyloxy-5a(6a),16a(17u)-diepoxy- 20-pregnene and hydrolyzing the thus-produced diepoxy- ZO-pregnene with an alkali hydroxide to obtain 3p-hydIOXY-50t(60t) 16a 17a -diepoxypregnan-20-one.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein the 3p,20-diacyloxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene is 3,6,20-diacetoxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene.

4. A process for the production of a 3,3-acyloxy- 5a(6a),16m(17a)-diepoxypregnan-20-one wherein the acyl radical is of an organic carboxylic acid containing up to and including eight carbon atoms, which comprises: mixing a 3/3,20-diacy1oxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene wherein the acyl radicals are defined as above with an organic peracid at a temperature between minus ten and plus forty degrees centigrade to give a 313,20-diacyloxy- 5oc( 6u),16a( 17a)-diepoxy-20-pregnene, hydrolyzing the thus-obtained diepoxy-ZO-pregnene with a basic reagent to obtain 3p-hydroxy-5u(6u),1604(17a)-diepoxypregnan- 20-one, and treating the thus-obtained SB-hydroxy- 5a(6a),16a(17a)-diepoxypregnan-20-one with an acylating agent selected from ketene, isopropenyl acylate, acid anhydride, acid chloride and acid bromide, to obtain a 3 fl-acyloxy-5 a 6a) ,160c( 17a) -diepoxypregnan-20-one defined as above.

5. A process for the production of Sfl-acetoxy- 5a(6u),16a(17u)-diepoxypregnan-20-one which comprises: mixing a 3fi,20-diacyloxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene wherein the acyl radicals are of carboxylic acids containing up to and including eight carbon atoms with an organic peracid selected from the group consisting of performic, peracetic, perbenzoic and monoperphthalic acid at a temperature between zero and thirty degrees centigrade to give 3fi,20-diacyloxy-5a(6a),16a(17a)-diepoxy- 20-pregnene, hydrolyzing the thus-produced diepoxy-20- pregnene with an alkali hydroxide to obtain 3 3-hydroxy- 50(6a),16a(17a)-diepoxypregnan-2O-one, and treating the thus-produced 3;9-hydroxy-5u(6oa),l6a(17u)-diepoxypregnan-ZO-one with acetic anhydride in pyridine to obtain 3 fl-acetoxy-S cc 6a) 16a( 17 a)-diepoxypregnan-20-one.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein the starting 318,20- diacyloxy-S,16,20-pregnatriene is 3p,20-diacetoxy-5,l6,20- pregnatriene.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,312,344 Logeman Mar. 2, 1943 2,323,277 Miescher June 29, 1943 2,602,769 Murray July 8, 1952 2,686,181 Julian Aug. 10, 1954 OTHER REFERENCES Mofiet: J. Am. Chem. Soc., pp. 2183- (1952). 

1. IN A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A 3-ODYGENATED5X(6A),16A(17A)-DIEPOXYPREGNAN-20-ONE COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA: 